Taurus' website is now showing the 905 (the 9mm snub) as available!!!

[chaim]

Just thought I'd give everyone a heads up. The Taurus website is showing the 905 as available. Has anyone seen one yet?

I can't wait until they get approved for sale in MD. I'm not sure if I want the aluminum model with the hammer or the steel model with the bobbed hammer (unfortunately it isn't available in aluminum or titanium with the bobbed hammer as the .38spl 85 is). Hmm, I wonder how 9mm would feel fired out of a relatively lightweight aluminum snubby revolver.

 

[Zer000]

Neato. *sigh* Any idea on if they are going to get it approved in CA? I'm not holding my breath.

 

[chaim]

I wouldn't see why Taurus won't get them approved in CA. I figure that you will probably just have to wait a bit longer (and me too, MD has a list of approved firearms too, though probably different criteria to get on it). So long as Taurus doesn't pull the gun off their production line in a year or less we'll probably see it.

The 905 is just their basic snub, similar to the 605, 85, 731, 94, and 941 (just in 9mm). I don't see why it wouldn't pass, and I don't see why they wouldn't test it. For those of us in CA, MD and any other "list" states, we probably just have to have a little extra patience. Still, them currently being out does at least mean that whatever proceedure each individual state requires can at least get started.

 

[farscott]

It must be available because Davidson's (Gallery of Guns) was showing stock on the model with the conventional spur hammer very early this morning. Of course, they now show zero stock, so people must have grabbed them.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Yep, they're out. Saw about 4 of them at the Richmond gunshow last weekend. All were stainless and looked pretty good. As for myself, I unfortuately found a P7 PSP that was calling my name (shouting, really). Might pick-up a 9mm in the future (but I want it in the CIA configuration).

 

[Zer000]

Well, out of the hundreds of handguns Taurus has calaloged, only 41 are approved for sale in CA. CA considers a difference in finish or sight type a different firearm, so that is really only 14 different models. I can't link directly to the list, but if you go to http://justice.hdcdojnet.state.ca.us/safeguns/safeguns_new.taf and search for taurus, you'll see how screwed we are. It is very costly to get a firearm approved, so they usally only bother with the really popular ones. Like I said, I'm not holding my breath.

 

[jdmb03]

Here's one on auction.
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?ItemNum=5064957

 

[Gary A]

My dealer has had one for at least a few days or a week or so 'cause I've been looking at it and re-arranging my priorities. It is a 905CHSS, concealed (bobbed, actually) hammer, stainless steel. I looked and looked and mulled and mulled and went in tonight and started the paper. The example I found has a very sweet double-action trigger pull and it locks up perfectly and solidly on each chamber. Unported, it comes with five moon-clips. I think and hope I'll like it but I didn't feel like waiting because the fit and finish on this one seems very well done. I think he's asking 329.95 or something close to that. I've done business with this guy for so long I'll just wait and see what we come to when I pick it up. He always treats me right and I always give him business. We seldom quibble much any more. I like revolvers and snubs and 9mm. What more can I ask? (Well, I'm not totally crazy about moon clips but ya cain't have it all.) I'll have to put off the 3inch heavy barrelled GP100 I've been looking at.

 

[Stainz]

One of the range denizens insisted that the store we frequent on the other side of town had a new Ruger SP-101 in 9mm Monday. He got me... I drove by there on the way home. It was in the Taurus case for $319.99, I think. No matter, I live in a Taurus-free zone. Interesting to see another 9mm revolver available... S&W even intro-ed a non-PC .40 S&W (646).

Stainz

 

[Prodigalshooter]

The amazing thing about the 9mm Taurus is that they are offering a non-ported version too! Last time I looked, they only had ported models, now I'm interested.

 

[Tomac]

I'm pondering those very two 9mm snubs for my girlfriend (which to choose? More recoil but less weight so it's easier for her to carry or more weight but less recoil so it's more pleasant to practice with?) I find 9mm snub ballistics more impressive than .38 special ballistics and am curious to see how Federal's 9mm Expanding Full Metal Jacket would perform.
Tomac

 

[Gary A]

Well, I got a chance shoot the new Taurus 9mm snub today and the results were generally good with one exception. The revolver is very well made and seems to be reasonably accurate (though I am no great accurate shot with a new DAO snub. Recoil is brisk but manageable, more than a .38 and somewhat less than a .357. The grips are very good and the revolver was totally reliable through 65 rounds of FMJ 9mm ammo. The only problem, and it is a serious one, is that the moon clips were almost totally useless with the UMC 9mm ammo I was using. The clips were not tight enough to hold the rounds and the only way they would work was carefully loading the gun in order to use the clips as an extractor. They would have been useless as a means of carrying a reload since the rounds would simply fall out. The good news is that the rounds headspace on the case mouth so I simply shot most of the rounds by loading them conventionally and tipping the cylinder to drop them out. Since I was shooting standard pressure 9mm, a tap would usually empty all five with no sticking. Right now the little snub is fun as a range gun, or as a last ditch backup where a reload is not planned, but I must admit to being a bit irritated that Taurus could be so innovative in design and build what seems to be such a nice revolver and then design such p*** poor moon clips. I could be that they will work better with some other brands of 9mm ammo, but I hope that Taurus improves the clips (I'm going to call them on it) or that someone like Ranch Products makes a version that will work. I have already checked out some of the Smith and Wesson 9mm clips and they do not work. They will not fit properly over the star which has a different design. If the clip problem gets resolved, I think it is a pretty nice little revolver with a fair amount of pop and ease of shooting. Till then, I'm still going to enjoy getting some cheap, double-action snubby practice by using it sans clips.

 

[M58]

Thanks for the report.
Had a M940 ten or more years ago.
Was pretty nice.
But the moon clips bent all the time.
They were much thinner than the .45 variety.

 

[Gary A]

As an update to my earlier comments: I have tried the five moon clips that came with the revolver with both Winchester Silvertips and Winchester White Box JHP and they seem to work fine with both. Have not yet tried Federal. Corbon, and some others I have around but this might indicate the earlier problem is just with some, maybe only UMC. I would not have thought so, but maybe the case dimensions of some brands are just a tad bit different in the extractor groove. Whatever, the UMC cartridges simply fall out of the clips and the Winchesters do not. I do have some concerns about the fragility of the clips as they are thin even if made of spring steel. I believe Taurus wants about 7.50 for 5 clips also, so they are a definite profit maker for Taurus. Still, if the clips prove durable enough, and they fit enough good brands of 9mm, it is a pretty slick revolver. Time will tell. It would be nice to have a small de-mooner to preserve the integrity of the clips. I just thought the 905 would be a nice, cheap-to-shoot companion to my .357 snubbies and I think it will be that.

 

[WonderNine]

Thanks for the range report. I'll be concerned about the moonclips as well and I'll be watching for any more information on them or possible better aftermarket ones.

 

[Stainz]

I chrono-ed the CCI Blazer 115gr FMJ's from my wife's CZ-75 and even they ran ~1165 fps. I am not sure how fast they would be travelling out of that snubby, but I'll bet they would still be supersonic, resulting in the usual 9mm 'crack'. That would probably be in the same painful range as .357 Magnums if discharged in a small space - and have some flash as well. I still like my old 'big & slow' home protection: .44 Specials, .45 ACP, & .45 Colt. I will also have my new 2" M10 stoked with 158gr LSWC's - an affordable, dependable, and anyone-can-shoot-me firearm.

I do applaud Taurus for their offerings - especially if they will make them less those ports. I wonder how the 'stellar' clips for their .45ACP are, ie, are they as thin? Perhaps it is just their vendor... especially if they headspace on the rim. I have never had a problem with my 625 and it's moonclips - but they have been made in one form or another for >86 years.

Give us another range/use report as you put more rounds through that snubby. At least the Blazers would be cheap - $3.99/50 locally. They work great in the CZ-75 - as they did in my Camp 9 - and their .45ACP's were great in my 625 (I now reload.). Sadly, their excellent PD .44 Special round, a 200gr Speer Gold Dot that exits my 2.5" M296 @ 800 fps, gave me a split case earlier this month - a firstever for me with thousands of those Al rounds used.

Stainz

 

[farscott]

I have been thinking about the Taurus 905 snubbie, and I have to admit I am having trouble seeing the role for the revolver. As a 21-ounce revolver, it is a bit too heavy for pocket carry or ankle carry, at least for me. If it is not going to be carried in a pocket or on the ankle, is the small size truly a benefit?

I was digging around on the S&W web site, and I found that the two-inch M64 weighs only 30.5 ounces. I think I rather deal with the extra 9.5 ounces and have a reliable extraction system that does not depend upon sheet metal clips. If one could find an S&W M12, the .38 Special K-frame would be 2.5 ounces lighter than the smaller Taurus 9x19 revolver.

I think the .38 Special will do a fine job, and K-frames are fairly easy to conceal. If the Taurus revolver was available with an aluminum frame, I think it would be much more useful. But for now, I rather have an S&W M12, M242, M64, or M10.

 

[Prodigalshooter]

Check with Ranch Products, I think they are making or going to be making moon clips for the Taurus.

 

[Gary A]

Thanks, Prodigalshooter, I will check out Ranch Products.
farscott - you make very valid points. Moon clips are a question mark but if reliable then the sheer abundance and quality versions of 9mm ammunition make the little revolver at least interesting and useful. BTW, they are supposed to be coming out with lightweight versions of this revolver but not as of yet. For my purposes...mostly fun...all steel is just fine.
Stainz - ditto agreeing with you. I don't know if I can compare the "crack" since at the range I always wear both plugs and earmuffs, but the noise and blast of the Taurus seemed less than, say, .357 110 grain loads from a snubby Smith or Ruger. Just my perception, don't have any measurements.
Also, and this is just my own gut feeling, I can see the day, not too far off, when the wonderful 158 grain LSWCHP+P is a thing of the past. I think only Winchester, among the big 3, still offers it. My thinking is that with the abandonment of the service-model .38 special, there is less, much less, demand for that load and with the increased popularity of extremely lightweight snubbies in .38 special, we see more and more development in the 125 grain and even lighter category. They are nice loads, but to me the big virtue of the .38 special is that big ol' (relatively) heavy lead load. Given a choice between 125 grains at 900 fps and 115 grains at 1050-1100 or so, I'll take the latter more often than not. I hope I'm wrong about the big .38 load, but good 9mm loads are abundant and likely to be so for the foreseeable future. I just see the 158 LHP as slowly fading from abundant supply and more options are better than less options.